WO2007045451A1

WO2007045451A1 - Assembly of stacked rolls or slabs of compressible insulation material

Info

Publication number: WO2007045451A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/010041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Claude Lejeune; Dany Trus; Pierre Vantilt
Original assignee: Knauf Insulation Sprl
Priority date: 2005-10-18
Filing date: 2006-10-18
Publication date: 2007-04-26
Also published as: RU2008119240A; EP1777170A1; RU2421387C2; EP1954588A1; UA94722C2

Abstract

A stack of rolls (1) or slabs of compressible insulating material (2) comprises a plurality of multipacks (6), each multipack (6) comprising and retaining together a plurality of individually packaged packs (1 ) of insulating material, the stack comprising at least two groups (7,7') of multipacks with each group comprising a plurality of aligned multipacks, the axial direction of at least one of the groups of multipacks being horizontal and the axial direction of at least one of the groups of multipacks being vertical.

Description

"Assembly of stacked rolls or slabs of compressible insulation material"

The present invention relates to an assembly of stacked rolls or slabs of compressible insulation material having an axial direction. Such assemblies, as well as their method of manufacturing, have been known from a long time (see for example EP-A-0220980, EP- A-1321382, DE-A-10026269 and WO2004/103821).

In these prior documents all the rolls or slabs of an assembly have either a vertical axis direction or a horizontal axis direction.

WO2004/092039 relates to arranging mineral wool insulation elements in fully sealed modules for transport and storage.

Each module forms a single layer of insulating elements arranged side by side. In the configuration illustrated in Fig.5, each module comprises three side by side insulating rolls. The stack of Fig.5 is configured to have a bottom portion consisting of three upright (i.e. vertically arranged) side by side modules arranged on a pallet, a horizontal (i.e. crosswise) module on top of this and, on top of this horizontal module, another three adjacent modules standing upright (i.e. vertically). The crosswise module is said to provide high stability for this type of large package.

According to one aspect of the invention, an assembly of stacked rolls or slabs is provided, as defined in claim 1. Other aspects are defined in the other independent claims. The dependent claims define particularly preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention. The present invention is particularly useful to improve the loadability of vehicles provided for transporting said stacks or assemblies, particularly trucks. In some circumstances, the stack according to the invention accommodates a greater number of insulating rolls or slabs that previously known stacks adapted for transportation; this is achieved (a) whilst maintaining the dimensions of the stack, particularly its height, such that it can still be loaded on to standard size trucks and (b) without damaging the insulating product, for example, without compressing the insulating product to such an extent that it is permanently damaged or can not regain its desired density or configuration when unpacked. The ability to increase the number of insulating products that can be transported in a single truck load provides a significant logistic, environmental and cost advantage.

Advantageously each roll, slab or pack of slabs is wrapped in a compressed state within a wrapping film. Several wrapped rolls or slabs are preferably fastened side by side so as to form modular elements known as multipacks wherein rolls or slabs have parallel axial directions, one group of said multipacks of the stack having rolls or slabs with a horizontal axial direction and another group of multipacks of the stack having rolls or slabs with a vertical axial direction. Preferably said several wrapped rolls or slabs are fastened side by side, in a compressed state, by means of a packaging film in order to form said multipacks.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, several fastened multipacks are arranged side by side so as to form groups of stacked multipacks wherein rolls or slabs have parallel axial directions, at least one first group of multipacks of the stack having rolls or slabs with a horizontal axial direction and at least one second group of multipacks of the stack having rolls or slabs with a vertical axial direction. Preferably said several fastened multipacks are secured or bound side by side, in a compressed state, by means of an enveloping film in order to form said groups. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said at least one first group of multipacks and said at least one second group of multipacks are stacked and secured or tied to each other, for example using an enveloping film. Further, the stack may comprise a pallet on which the stacked groups of multipacks are supported.

Advantageously, said stacked groups of multipacks are secured or tied to each other, for example using an enveloping film, optionally also with a pallet on which said stacked groups are supported, by means of a covering bag or hood, preferably of a plastics material.

The stack may comprise a lower group of multipacks wherein the rolls or slabs have a vertical direction and a higher group of multipacks wherein the rolls or slabs have a horizontal axial direction. Preferably, each multipack comprises four rolls or packs of slabs; the lower group of multipacks may comprise three multipacks and the higher group of multipacks may comprise four multipacks.

The compressible insulation material is preferably made of glass fibres or mineral fibres.

Embodiments in which (a) each multipacks which forms part of the stack is comprised within either the first of the second group of multipacks and/or (b) the multipacks are arranged so the stack consists of two blocks or groups of multipacks (i.e. without additional groups of multipacks or individual multipacks) may be particularly advantageous. Such configurations may allow the stack to be built up solely from two blocks or groups of multipacks, each of which may be assembled from individual multipacks using the same or similar block building equipment. Each block may then be handled in a similar way to assemble the stack. This avoids the need to manipulate a single multipack in addition to groups or blocks of multipacks in order to build up the stack. Handling of a single multipack in such an operation would require additional handling equipment and/or would slow down the operation of building the stack.

The dimensions of the stack may be selected so as to optimise the number of rolls and slabs of insulating material that may be loaded into the load carrying space of a truck having, for example, (a) a - A - length of 13.6 m, a width of 2.45 - 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 - 2.8 m or (b) a length of about 15 m, a width of 2.5 m and a height of 2.7 - 3 m.

Other details and preferences of the invention will be apparent from the following non-limitative description. Fig. 1 shows schematically the steps followed for producing groups of stacked multipacks intended to form an stack according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a stack according to the invention obtained with the groups of stacked multipacks produced according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an individual pack of slabs of insulating material and an individual roll of insulating material.

Fig. 4 shows a multipack of slabs and a multipack of rolls.

The illustrated method for manufacturing a stack according to Fig. 2 is only given as example. Other methods of manufacturing are obviously possible, for example according to the teaching of the above mentioned prior documents.

Rolls 1 are made while winding a strip of compressible insulation material, for example of glass fibre 2. Each roll 1 has an axial direction 4, here horizontal, and is compressed within a wrapping film 3.

The rolls have a diameter after compression of approximately

400-440 mm.

Thereafter the rolls 1 are fastened side by side with their axial horizontal direction 4 in a parallel arrangement by means of a packaging film 5. The rolls are compressed perpendicularly to their axial directions 4 and form a modular element 6, otherwise known as a multipack. The illustrated multipack 6 comprises four rolls and has a length of 1300 mm and a width of 1160 mm.

Thereafter several multipacks 6 are stacked in two different groups 7 and T wherein the rolls have parallel axial directions 4. The group 7 comprises three stacked multipacks 6 and the group T four stacked multipacks 6.

These groups are again compressed according to a vertical direction and the multipacks are bound side by side by means of an enveloping film in the form of a sleeve 8 and respectively 8'. The group 7 comprises three multipacks 6 and has a length of 1350 mm, a width of 1160 mm and a height of 1200 mm. The group T comprises four multipacks 6 and has a length of 1160 mm, a width of 1350 mm and a height of 1600 mm. As can be see from Fig.1 , each multipack initially has a width of 1300 mm. The process of compressing the multipacks during formation of the groups 7, T of multipacks causes their width to increase to 1350 mm.

In Fig. 1 and Fig 2. the enveloping films which form the sleeves 8,8' are shown enveloping the sides of the rolls 1 or slabs. Whilst this is possible, the enveloping films which form of the sleeves 8,8' will generally be arranged to envelop the ends of the rolls 1 or slabs. This may provide additional weathering protection to these ends, especially when these ends are not sealed.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the group 7 of stacked multipacks is rotated so as the rolls which had a horizontal axial direction 4 receive a vertical axial direction 10. This rotated group 7 of multipacks has now a length of 1350 mm, a width of 1200 mm and a height of 1160 mm. The rotated group 7 is then deposited on a pallet 9 having a length of 1070 - 1130mm, a width of 1290 - 1300mm and a height of 120 - 150mm. Thereafter the group T is stacked as such on the rotated group 7 while maintaining the axial horizontal direction 4 of the rolls.

A covering bag may envelop the complete assembly, optionally with the pallet.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated and disclosed embodiment and that several modifications may be envisaged within the scope of the appended claims. The disclosed example shown in Fig 1 and Fig 2 concerns rolls but another embodiment could relate to stacking of slabs or packs of slabs. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 respectively show similar views to the first and second stages shown in Fig 1. Fig 3 shows how an individual pack of slabs may be used in comparison to an individual roll. Fig 4 shows how a multipack may be configured from individual packs of slabs in comparison to individual rolls. The dimensions are given in millimetres by way of example.

The width of the stack may be less than 1360mm (for example about 1350mm), less than 1310mm (for example about 1300mm), or less than 1290mm (for example about 1280mm). It may even be possible to arrange the width to be less than or equal to about 1260 mm or 1250 mm. This may provide advantageous transportation or loading possibilities. The stack may consist entirely of either rolls of insulation material or slabs of insulation material. Alternatively, the stack may comprise both rolls and slabs of insulating materials, for example, one group of multipacks consisting of rolls of insulating material and one group of multipacks consisting of slabs of multipacks.

Claims

1. A stack of rolls (1) or slabs of compressible insulating material (2) comprising a plurality of multipacks (6), each multipack (6) comprising and retaining together a plurality of individually packaged packs (1) of insulating material, characterised in that the stack comprises at least a first and a second group (7,7') of multipacks with each group comprising a plurality of aligned multipacks, in which the axial direction of one of the groups (7) of multipacks is vertical and the axial direction the other group (7') of multipacks is horizontal.

2. A stack according to claim 1 , wherein the first group (7) consists of three aligned multipacks (6) and the second group (7') consists of four aligned multipacks (6).

3. A stack according to claims 2, wherein the axial direction of the first group (7) of multipacks is vertical and the axial direction of the second group of multipacks (7') is horizontal.

4. A stack according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second group (7') of multipacks is arranged above the first group (7) of multipacks.

5. A stack according to any preceding claim, in which the height of the stack, including any pallet incorporated into the stack, is selected from (a) a height greater than 2600mm and less than 2960mm, (b) a height greater than 2400mm and less than 2760mm, (c) a height greater than 2300mm and less than 2660mm.

6. A stack according to any preceding claim, wherein each roll (1) slab or or pack of slabs is wrapped in a compressed state within a wrapping film (3) to form an individually packaged pack (1) of insulating material.

7. A stack according to any preceding claim, wherein each multipack (6) comprises a plurality of wrapped rolls (1) or slabs fastened together side by side in a compressed state by means of a packaging film (5).

8. A stack according to any preceding claim , wherein the multipacks (6) forming each group (7,7') of multipacks are bound side by side in a compressed state by means of an enveloping film (8, 8').

9. A stack according to any preceding claim, wherein the first (7) and second (7') group of multipacks are secured together by a plastics film which forms a hood covering the stack.

10. A stack according to any preceding claim , comprising a pallet (9) on which the stacked groups (7, 7') of multipacks are supported.

11. A stack according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible insulation material (2) is made of glass fibres or mineral fibres.

12. A stack according to any preceding claim, wherein each multipacks which forms part of the stack is comprised within either the first (7) or the second (7') group of multipacks.

13. A stack of individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs of insulating glass fibre or mineral fibre arranged for transportation comprising: a first group (7) of twelve individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged vertically as a block having three individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along one side and four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along its other side; a second group (7') of sixteen individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged horizontally as a block having four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along one side and four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along its other side.

14. A stack according to claim 13, wherein the individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs of each group (7,7') are secured together by an enveloping film (8,8') to form a block.

15. A stack according to claim 13 or claim 14, comprising a plastics hood secured over the stack which provides integrity to the stack.

16. A stack according to claim 13 consisting essentially of: a first group (7) of twelve individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged vertically as a block having three individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along one side and four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along its other side; a second group (7') of sixteen individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged horizontally as a block having four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along one side and four individually packaged rolls (1) or packs of slabs arranged along its other side; secured together to form the stack; and optionally, a pallet.

17. A stack in accordance with any one of claims 13 to 16, in which the height of the stack, including any pallet incorporated into the stack, is selected from (a) a height greater than 2600mm and less than 2960mm, (b) a height greater than 2400mm and less than 2760mm, (c) a height greater than 2300mm and less than 2660mm.